false
gb/fˈɔls/ us/fˈɔls/
A2
Anglais
~ 2600
Sens
0 sens
adjective
A2
property
1
Not true or correct
Not true; not based on facts.
Schéma d’usage :
[something] is false
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'false' with 'fake'. 'False' refers to something not true, while 'fake' often means something made to look real but is not genuine.
Synonymes
untrue (A direct synonym, often used interchangeably in most contexts.)
Antonymes
true (Direct opposite in terms of factual correctness.)
Collocations
false statement
|false claim
|false information
|false report
Thèmes
communication
|logic
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The report turned out to be false.
- She denied making the false accusation.
- Many people believed the false story.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The answer is false.
- That news is false.
- He told a false story.
adjective
B1
property
2
Not genuine or real
Not real; made to look like something real.
Schéma d’usage :
false [object]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may use 'wrong' instead of 'false' when describing objects. 'Wrong' refers to correctness, not authenticity.
Synonymes
fake (Common in informal speech; can sound less formal than 'false'.)
Antonymes
genuine (Refers to something that is real and authentic.)
Collocations
false teeth
|false passport
|false identity
Thèmes
objects
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Exemples
- He was traveling on a false passport.
- She wore false eyelashes to the party.
- The suspect gave a false name to the police.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He has false teeth.
- She used a false name.
- That man has a false passport.
adjective
B2
property
3
Not sincere or pretending feelings
Not real in feelings; pretending.
Schéma d’usage :
false [emotion/appearance]
Erreur fréquente :
Some learners confuse 'false' with 'fake' here, but 'fake' in this context can sound harsher or more informal.
Synonymes
insincere (Focuses on lack of honesty in emotions or words.)
Antonymes
sincere (Genuinely expressing one's feelings.)
Collocations
false smile
|false modesty
|false hope
Thèmes
emotions
|social
|communication
Exemples
- He greeted me with a false smile.
- Her humility seemed false to everyone.
- They gave us false hope about the outcome.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He has a false smile.
- She gave me false hope.
- Her words were false.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
false
API
GB/fˈɔls/
US/fˈɔls/
Syllabes et accentuation
false (1 syllabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (false)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: false
Famille de mots
Expressions
false sense of security
1/fˈɔls sˈɛns əv sɪkjˈʊɹɪti/
fixed phrase
Mistaken belief of safety
When someone feels safe but is actually not safe.
Exemples
- The quiet streets gave her a false sense of security.
- Wearing that device might give you a false sense of security.
false start
1/fˈɔls stˈɑɹt/
fixed phrase
Invalid early beginning
When someone starts doing something too early, especially in sports or competitions.
Exemples
- The runner was disqualified for a false start.
- Our project had a false start, but we quickly got back on track.
false alarm
1/fˈɔls əlˈɑɹm/
fixed phrase
Untrue warning or alert
A warning or call for help that turns out not to be real.
Exemples
- We evacuated the building, but it was a false alarm.
- The smoke turned out to be from a barbecue—it was a false alarm.
- The smoke detector went off, but it was just a false alarm.
- We evacuated for nothing; it was a false alarm.